CHAPTER XXII 



HIS PLACE IN THE WORLD 



"■ F it be difficult accurately to assign a man 

 -*- to his final place in the world within a 

 generation, or even a century, of his death, it 

 is far more difficult properly to locate him 

 while still in the flesh. At the same time, if 

 the deeds done have been apart from those of 

 other men, and of commanding significance, 

 without duplication in their sweep in history, 

 we may, by some consideration of his accom- 

 plishment and some setting forth of his men- 

 tal furnishing, fairly suggest something of the 

 estimate posterity may place upon him. 



First among all other things, Luther Bur- 

 bank is unique among men in his knowledge 

 of Nature and in his manipulation and inter- 

 pretation of her forces. Other men have been 

 plant -breeders and have produced remarkable 

 results in improved fruits and flowers. They 

 have achieved a merited reputation ; indeed, in 

 some cases this high reputation has passed on 



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